Solids containment device for use within or in association with hydromechanical grease interceptor

Abstract

A solids containment device for use in n hydromechanical grease interceptor, sized and shaped to be removably carried within the hydromechanical grease interceptor. The solids containment device includes a containment body with side and end walls, an open top, a wastewater inflow opening and an outflow opening. At least one removable solids separating screen is carried within the containment body, and is located between the inflow opening and the outflow opening. The outflow opening is directed away from the outflow aperture of the hydromechanical grease interceptor, in order to encourage a generally diagonal flow path for the wastewater stream within the hydromechanical grease interceptor, thereby encouraging separation of fats, oils and grease.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A solids containment device for use in a hydromechanical grease or solids interceptor having a wastewater inflow aperture and a wastewater outflow aperture allowing a wastewater stream to pass through the interceptor, said solids containment device comprising:
 a containment body having (a) walls defining a chamber with an open top, (b) a wastewater inflow opening, and (c) a wastewater outflow opening, said containment body being sized and shaped to be removably carried within said interceptor with said inflow opening aligned with said inflow aperture to permit said wastewater stream flowing into said interceptor through said inflow aperture to flow into said chamber through said inflow opening and out from said chamber through said outflow opening; and 
 at least one solids separating screen removably carried by said containment body within said chamber between said wastewater inflow opening and said wastewater outflow opening, said at least one solids separating screen having screen openings sized for blocking the passage of solids above a predetermined size while permitting the passage of fats, oils and grease; 
 wherein said wastewater outflow opening from said chamber is positioned on said containment body to direct said wastewater stream direction generally downwardly in said interceptor and away from said outflow aperture; 
 wherein said containment body comprises at least one generally vertical slot for releasably retaining said at least one solids separating screen within said body; 
 wherein said containment body comprises a lid and said at least one solids separating screen may be removed upwardly from said slot when said lid is open; 
 wherein said lid comprises rounded slots which can act as handles to manually lift said containment body when said lid is open; 
 wherein said lid is hinged to said containment body and consists of two overlapping panels in the closed position; and 
 wherein said lid comprises at least one spacing element which, in the closed position projects through at lease one of said rounded slots and engages an underside of a cover of said interceptor. 
 
     
     
       2. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , wherein said containment body comprises an upper lip that nests between an underside of the interceptor cover and a ledge on said interceptor to position said device within the interceptor relative to the inlet opening. 
     
     
       3. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one removable solids separating screen includes a first solids separating screen, and a second solids separating screen downstream of said first solids separating screen. 
     
     
       4. The solids containment device of  claim 3 , wherein said first solids separating screen separates out larger solids and said second solids separating screen separates out smaller solids. 
     
     
       5. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflecting surface positioned adjacent to said inflow opening. 
     
     
       6. The solids containment device of  claim 5 , wherein said deflecting surface deflects a wastewater stream in a downward direction. 
     
     
       7. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , wherein said inflow opening is generally round and said outlet opening is generally larger in area than the inlet and shaped to promote laminar flow characteristics. 
     
     
       8. The solids containment device of  claim 1  wherein said containment body comprises an outer bottom wall which is inclined in a downward direction away from said outflow aperture of said interceptor, and wherein said outflow opening directs said wastewater stream along said downward direction of the bottom wall. 
     
     
       9. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , wherein said lid comprises a hinge pin which is inserted into a hinge hole formed in a side of said containment body. 
     
     
       10. The solids containment device of  claim 9 , wherein said hinge hole is generally triangular to permit said lid to close tightly. 
     
     
       11. The solids containment device of in  claim 1 , wherein said containment body is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
       12. The solids containment device of  claim 1  where both said containment body and said interceptor are formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
       13. The solids containment device of  claim 1 , wherein said device may be lifted up out of said interceptor, to be emptied of solids and cleaned. 
     
     
       14. An interceptor for wastewater stream having a solids containment device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said interceptor only intercepts solids. 
     
     
       15. In combination, the solids containment device of  claim 1  removably carried within said interceptor.